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University College Dublin: Urban & Building Conservation

Institution University College Dublin View institution profile
Department UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy
Web www.ucd.ie/global
Email internationalenquiries@ucd.ie
Telephone +353 1 716 8500
Study type Research

Summary

The twenty-five years of the MUBC programme's existence have seen a growing awareness of the cultural, social and economic importance of conserving the built heritage of buildings and urban areas. In this country and internationally, there is a growing demand for the knowledge and skills required to maintain and manage the wide range of buildings that form the material culture of society. We have also seen the development of the legislative environment, giving effect to Ireland’s ratification for the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage Europe. There is now an expectation that the care of historic buildings will meet the highest international standards. The conservation of buildings and the conservation of towns and urban areas are distinct but related concerns. They share a requirement for specialist knowledge and skills, usually require the collaboration of a range of disciplines, and make special demands on the theoretical frameworks and knowledge base of each discipline.

The programme in Urban and Building Conservation was established in UCD in 1986 in recognition of the growing need for expertise in architectural conservation. It forms part of a broad-ranging programme in UCD Architecture which seeks to prepare students and the profession for changing roles in architecture, and particularly, for an enlarging role in the rehabilitation and restoration of buildings and towns. UCD Architecture has taken on the responsibility of creating a centre of expertise for the study of conservation in Ireland. The MUBC programme attracts professionals from both private and public offices. Its participants have included architects, urban and regional planners, engineers, archaeologists, surveyors, historians and other associated disciplines.

The programme for the MUBC is conducted for the most part on the Richview campus, which adjoins the main University campus at Belfield. The Library at Richview is an essential resource for the programme, which has its own studio in an adjoining building.

The aim of the programme is to provide a high quality learning environment and an academic structure for research and development of ideas – a methodological framework which could inform and improve the decisions of practice. The programme is also intended to act as an introductory vehicle for those wishing to pursue further research at PhD level.

Past graduates have gone on to become international or national experts in their selected fields. Many of these graduates have changed the way that Ireland's designed environment is perceived, planned, protected and developed. Many have gone on to do the same in more international contexts.

Difference between MUBC and M.Arch.Sc. (Conservation & Heritage) Programmes

The principal difference between the MUBC programme and the M.Arch.Sc programme is the scope and ambition of the thesis requirement. The thesis for the MUBC degree must contain research warranting the award of 60 credits. The MUBC programme requires four semesters full-time attendance for completion. The thesis content of the MUBC programme is spread over semesters two, three and four.

MUBC

Why UCD?

University College Dublin is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities. Ranked in the top 1% of institutions worldwide, in the overall 2024 QS World University Rankings, UCD was named 126 in the world. 

UCD, Ireland’s Global University, is Ireland’s largest university. Established in 1854, the university has a student body of almost 38,000 students with more than 10,000 international students drawn from 152 countries. UCD is Ireland's leader in graduate education with over 11,000 graduate students; almost a quarter of whom are graduate research students.

Students are attracted to UCD by the strength of its teaching and …

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